Compare towns
Plainfield vs Norwalk vs Brooklyn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Plainfield | Norwalk | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141 |
92,187Highest |
8,517Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Brooklyn and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17%±1 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Brooklyn and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Norwalk and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
| Norwalk and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$7,817Highest 18% above CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwalk and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
9.1%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Norwalk and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #131 of 149 in CT | #112 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Norwalk School District | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Brien McMahon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.